United Kingdom to Play Stronger Role in NATO Exercises – Cameron

British Prime Minister David Cameron set out new plans for the UK to play a stronger role in several NATO military exercises, according to the statement by David Cameron’s spokesperson.

LONDON (Sputnik) — The United Kingdom will play a stronger role in NATO exercises this year, including in the Baltic states, British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday during his meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

“The Prime Minister set out new plans for the UK to play a stronger role in several NATO military exercises this year. These included bringing Joint Warrior into the NATO fold this April and committing 850 personnel to Exercise Arrcade Fusion in the Baltic states towards the end of the year, contributing to the development of NATO’s new Spearhead Force,” the statement by David Cameron’s spokesperson published on the government website said.

Meeting earlier at 10 Downing Street--Prime Minister Cameron & #NATO SecGen Jen Stoltenberg http://t.co/qOJj6At3z0 pic.twitter.com/IdrFY9CrC8

— US Mission to NATO (@USNATO) March 13, 2015

The leaders also discussed commitments reached during the NATO summit in Wales last year on establishing the very high readiness Spearhead Force and six command posts in the Baltic countries. Both, Cameron and Stoltenberg commended the progress made toward this.

In September 2014, NATO members agreed to set up the Spearhead Force enabling the alliance to protect its member states by sending troops to the Baltic region within days or even hours if needed.

Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March 2014, NATO has boosted its military presence close to Russia's border, specifically in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.

Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO's increased military presence in the country's neighboring states.